How I Met Your Father

I wrote about our story briefly 4 years ago but I thought this time, I will share with you the longer version, which incidentally was illustrated in our Wedding Guestbook. Yup, I had wanted my guests to read our love story while they wrote down their well-wishes for us =)

And so kids, without further ado, here is the story of How I Met Your Daddy..

Our Guestbook

ChocoLiquor was the theme of our wedding because I love chocolates and your daddy loves alcohol

Daddy and I first met at the steps of Singapore Indoor Stadium where we were attending Sun's concert with our separate cell group members.

The first time I was introduced to your daddy

Not long after, our cell groups merged and we became cell group members.

Daddy became mummy's cell group member

Your Yi Yi (my sister) was also in the same cell group and she started noticing things.

Hmmm..

You see your father is the kind that, the more he likes you, the more he will laugh and tease you. Much like what he does to you kids (especially you Girlee) and his close friends. Super irritating! Your Yi Yi noticed that he kept teasing me and when I'm super irritated, he has a look of glee on his face which irritates me even more! *grrr*

And I remembered clearly that it was in the MRT

I didn't believe her haha

So I pondered over what she said..

I'm not sure if this is what your daddy did but that's how it was in my head haha

We started sms-ing each other on our Nokia phones (no Whatsapp then!)

And spent a lot of time talking on the phone..

.. Till really late at night.

So late that your Po Po (mummy's mummy) scolded your mummy!

We started meeting up regularly, having dinners and buying presents for friends. This went on for a few weeks until one day, daddy and I were at the old Borders (now Marks and Spencer) at Wheelock Place.

We started reading a book together
(can't remember which book)

And we got really close

And daddy conveniently put his hand on mummy's shoulder

Daddy and mummy at the same spot at Borders Wheelock Place, a few weeks after we got together.

And that was it. There was no "will you be my girlfriend?" or "shall we get together". Your daddy only conveniently held my hand and declared indirectly that all his girlfriends stayed so far (-_-").

Daddy stayed at Sembawang while mummy stayed at Tiong Bahru

Those were the days when we were so poor that we were both still taking public transport
(I still do until recently)

We spent most of our dating days in Orchard or along the Singapore River because they were near your mummy's house in Tiong Bahru (daddy had to send mummy back home every time. Baby Boy, you must learn to be gentlemanly like your daddy!).

Our favourite spot at Spaggeddies in Tanglin Mall, also no longer there any more. We were so poor that this was considered a luxury that we can only eat once or twice a year!
(you kids are so lucky, we bring you to restaurants at least once a week!)

We loved the Singapore River

Mastered taking selfies without a front facing camera as it was not in existence then
(Surprisingly, all these photos were taken by your daddy. Not bad right haha)

On 7 July 2007, your daddy surprised me by proposing to me on the darkest beach of East Coast Park.

Made using light sticks
(the heart was made by breaking the light sticks and pouring the liquid out into tealight containers)

"Will you.."
(The beach was too dark to take any pictures of this so I could only recreate it with cartoon hehe)

Your daddy forgot to hold the flowers that he placed on the sand next to the light sticks

Had to gostan (reverse) and get his flowers

Before asking me the question again. I was in utter shock and couldn't believe what was happening.
Of course I said yes!

Daddy putting the engagement ring on mummy's finger

We then made plans to get married on 2 May 2009.

Well-wishes from our guests in our guestbook

Our bridal photo shoot was done in Johor Bahru because it was so much cheaper!

Young and skinny! *laughs*

Fulling my secret desire of being 還珠格格 (huan ju ge ge)

Even though this photo was heavily photoshopped, it is not fake!
We actually waded into Kota Tinggi Waterfall for this photo!

Many thanks to my lovely bridesmaids/BFFs for helping me to come up with such a unique and meaningful guestbook!

Credits

I had previously written about our actual wedding day so I won't go into more details about it. It was quite a tiring day but I was happy and partly because I was the skinniest (and maybe prettiest? No I reject that! I'm still pretty!!! *laughs*) that I ever was (I'm shallow like that *laughs*).

Our wedding wasn't the grandest but it was meaningful and memorable. The presence of God was so strong in the main sanctuary of Grace Assembly of God that it became the turning point for my sister who decided there and then that she would return to Jesus. I was so happy because that was exactly what I prayed and asked the Lord for. I told God that if He didn't grace our wedding with His presence, everything we have done would have been futile and meaningless. Thank God that He did, and till this day, I still have people telling me that they were very blessed =)

~~~~~

Finally, to the love of my life (although now you have to share the title with my two other loves) who makes it his goal to ensure that all my dreams will come true..

Yes, it has been 7 years! Wow, how fast time flies!

Here's to many more years of making our dreams into reality by the grace of God! I love you! =)

~~~~~

This post is part of a How I Met Your Father Blog Train hosted by The Chill Mom.
Join me and other Mum Bloggers as we reminisce how we each met the father of our children.

What Christmas Means to Us

Besides just remembering the day that Christ the Saviour was born, Christmas also symbolises for me a time of bright lights, friendship, presents, hope and most of all, love.

And of course an excuse to spend quality time with friends and family! *laughs*

In contrast to most other families, our family is not very big on exchanging presents. Of course there are times when we do (in fact, we get our mums a present every year!) but it is not mandatory. Not even for the kids, who will usually get gifts from friends and grandparents instead (hubby says Christmas is Jesus' birthday, not theirs. If anything, the gifts should be going to Jesus!).

Instead, here are 5 things that we do as a family every year no matter what.

OUR FIVE FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

1) Celebrating Christmas in His House

Every year without fail we will be in City Harvest Church.

Every year it is always the same: we'll be enjoying candlelight services one weekend and watching an awesome drama performance by our Drama Ministry the following weekend. It was a great time of remembering God's goodness and how He sent His Son to be born as the Saviour of the whole world.

Candlelight Service in 2011

Candlelight Service in 2014

One of our Christmas Services, with the stage all decked out for the drama performance

Hubby and I at a Christmas Service in 2013, just days before Baby Boy was born =)

It is very ironic but as I am typing this I'm realising that this year will be the first time that we'll be missing both the candlelight services AND the Christmas services because we will be in Tokyo! How can this be?!?! *gasp*

Hopefully we will not miss the one next year... *sigh*


2) Annual Christmas Dinners with Family

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Singapore but we do have "Thanksgiving" dinners where we gather at my mum's house and eat "big fish big meat" (direct translation from the Chinese Idiom).

Christmas dinner in 2011

Christmas Dinner in 2013

Christmas dinner in 2014

Although the hubby's family does not celebrate Christmas, we do use it as an excuse to go out for lavish buffet dinners together! =)

Having our Christmas dinner at Orchard Hotel

The best thing about being with family is that you can always be yourself. You can dress in the ugliest pajamas, sit like a gangster, laugh like a hyena and talk with your mouth full of roast chicken, and no one will ever judge you. I love getting together with my family, and it is a Christmas tradition that I hope will be carried on forever! =)


3) Annual Christmas Gatherings with Friends

Christmas is also the time for themed parties with friends.

Hats Christmas party in 2010

Bows and Ties Christmas party in 2011

Starry Starry Night Christmas party in 2012

Christmas is also time for mandated meet-ups and occasionally gift exchanges whenever we feel like it (which is very seldom unfortunately! Ah well...).

With Baby Boy's buddy and our friends

Christmas with the BFFs in 2011

Christmas with the BFFs in 2012

Throughout pregnancy and delivery, we were there for each other. Thank you for being our friends and for sticking with us through thick and thin. You know I love you guys! =)


4) Photo-taking with Christmas Decorations

Christmas Express in Marina Bay Sands in 2013, right before I gave birth to my boy 

Left: With the Christmas tree at Ion;
Right: With a gnome in Marina Square

Baby Boy's first Christmas
(because technically he was born 2 days after Christmas so he didn't get to celebrate Christmas in the year that he was born!)

The Christmas decorations are always so warm, colourful and bright! Appreciate the effort that everyone puts in to make the malls and even offices so beautiful and fun! How can you resist taking pictures with them?


5) Celebrate Birthdays

And last but definitely not least, Christmas is a time for celebrating birthdays! Especially the birth of my Baby Boy!

My Christmas present in 2013

Baby Boy's cloud-themed first birthday at Rochester House

Baby Boy loves it when everyone sings "Happy Birthday" to him!

We also celebrate my mum's birthday, which incidentally is YESTERDAY!

Celebrating my mum's birthday in 2011 at Unique Seafood

Happy Birthday Mummy! May you always be happy and full of faith! We love you! =)

~~~~~~

Before I end, I'd like to say to all our lovely readers, family and friends...

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! =)
Love, all of us at MadPsychMum

~~~~~~

Next up on the blog train is Angie, the Mommy who blogs at Life's Tiny Miracles. December is Angie's favourite month; it's a time of counting blessings and blessings others in return. In her blog, she and her hubby write about the beautiful and trying moments of everyday life and of parenting.

This post is part of a blog train hosted by Prayerfull Mum. 
Click to read more about how different families celebrate Christmas!

P.S: This Christmas, we will also be praying for our friends whose son was recently diagnosed with cancer. Although we are heartbroken to hear this, we will continue to pray and believe that he will be healed in Jesus' name! If you can, please do join us in prayer for him and his family. Thank you! =)